City OKs USA be sent to Inverness Township for review

Thursday

Sep 14, 2017 at 12:01 AM

Brady Hebert Staff Writer, @bhebertCDT @bhebertCDT

CHEBOYGAN – The Cheboygan City Council passed a motion in support of a newly drafted utility service agreement and combination water and sewer agreement at its regular meeting Tuesday night in hopes of getting the long-awaited Meijer store to Cheboygan.

"We had a meeting on Aug. 30 with the township, and basically the consensus was to look at a utility service agreement, water/sewer," said Eustice. "We had one in process, very nearly complete, and it is for the most part finalized now. Our (the city's Meijer) committee wanted to make a motion to negotiate only this agreement as far as utility service agreements are concerned. It doesn't mean we can't look at other options, but as far as utility service agreements, our committee determined that we want this agreement if we are going to manage the utilities for Inverness Township."

Eustice said there has been talk of a separate water agreement and leaving the current sewer agreement alone, but there are too many issues with the current sewer agreement.

"The major issue is financial," said Eustice. "We have some concerns that we are subsidizing the Inverness Township sewer system with city sewer user's money."

Eustice said the city is spending around $95,000 in the current sewer agreement with the township, with only around $71,000 returning to the city for operation and maintenance. He said changes in the new USA and water/sewer agreement will address that shortfall.

Council members voted unanimously to send the USA to the township for its review, requesting to hear back from the township before the next council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

In other action, the council:

•Amended the Downtown Development Plan and Tax Increment Finance Plan as another step in adding three parcels, including the Carnegie Library, to the city's Downtown Development Authority district.

•Awarded a request for proposal for a certified grant administrator relative to the Downtown Cheboygan Facade Grant Project for Creation Station and Simply Marcella to the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance in an amount not to exceed $12,000.

•Appointed Lindsey Miller to the DDA Board of Directors, with a term to expire June 23, 2020.

•Appointed Eustice as the certifying officer and environmental review officer for the Downtown Cheboygan Facade Project.

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